The first tourney of the season was delayed due to a some big snowflakes, but the weather warmed up fast at Faribault Country Club and 18 holes were completed. A few days later (April 13), the Lakers battled the heavy winds at the East Ridge Invitational at the White Bear Lake Yacht Club.

So scores were up for Prior Lake as the team shot 433 at White Bear Lake and 413 at Faribault in its first two tourneys.

"The weather was tough both days," said Lakers coach Corey Carney. "The girls were making snow angels during the snow delay (at Faribault). One girl putted her ball and it stopped short of the hole because it had become a small snowball.

"(At White Bear Lake), the temperature was nicer, but the wind made a difficult golf course even tougher," added Carney. " I'm excited to see what scores we will shoot at The Wilds (in our own tourney April 21). These first two outings were great to get some rust off, but the scores are not indicative of what I think we will be shooting as the season progresses."

The Lakers' top returning players are senior captains Laney Chmielewski and Bailey Klingfus, while juniors Kaia Wold and Erica Braun also played some varsity last year.

Prior Lake lost its top-two players from last year in Kenzie Sexe and Sam Kraft. Sexe was a two-time state qualifier, who is now playing Division I golf at Kansas.

Meanwhile, at Faribault, Chmielewski had the Lakers' best score with 96. Senior Anna Schmitz finished with 103, while Klingfus had 106. Wold and Braun both shot 108, while eighth-grader Nadia Turner had 111.

At White Bear Lake, Chmielewski finished with 103 followed by Wold (106), Turner (110), Klingfus (114), Braun (118) and Schmitz (135).

Senior Hailey Schultze and eighth-grader Isabel Benson are also expected to get some varsity time this spring.

Prior Lake's own invite at The Wilds will start at 11:30 a.m. The Lakers' first South Suburban Conference tournament is the next day at Valleywood Golf Course at 9 a.m.